With the support of the European Commission / Safer Internet Action plan  
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Methodological approach
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Analyse and synthesis
of the existing data
Determination of the complementary topics
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Analyse and synthesis of the existing data

National data France


A/ The current situation


Data about the French population

According to INSEE (National Statistical Institute), as of the 1st of January 2005,
the population of France was 62 370 800:

• 30.300.425 males
• 32.070.375 females.

The 12-18 years old population was 5.628.562, divided into:

• 2.876.018 boys
• 2.752.544 girls.

12-18 year olds represent 9% of the French population.

Data about the Internet

  • At home

According to INSEE, 45% of families in France had a computer at home in 2004, i.e. three times more than in 1996. The new phenomena in the landscape of household computerisation are multi-functional items and the need for laptops (8% of families own one).

There is an Internet connection in 31% of households, five times more than in 1999. The most well equipped families are 'the richest, those with graduates, and couples with children'. People who have graduated from secondary school are four times more likely to have a computer than people without a diploma (73% against 10%) and they are six times more likely to have an Internet connection. Similarly, the presence of children in primary school or secondary school, is a real determining factor. In 2004, 70% of the couples with children have a computer at home. Finally, the social status is also decisive. For the poorest quarter of the population, ownership of computer equipment stands at about 29% compared with 7% in 1996, while Internet access is 15% compared with 2% in 1999, 'but these families are three times less on line than the richest quarter of the population'.

The majority of Internet surveys focuses more on use than on equipment.

  • At school

Figures concerning Internet equipment and use in schools are not recent. A study carried out by the French Ministry of Education shows that 50% of primary schools (0,6% in 1997), 98% of colleges (11 to 15 years old, 11% in 1997), 99% of lycées (15 to 18 years old, 32% in 1997) had an Internet connection in 2003. But these figures don't take into account pupils' use of the Internet.

A new study ordered by the Ministry of Education should give more precise and detailed figures in May 2005 (http://tice.education.fr/educnet/plan/etic).

To these figures we have to add local community initiatives. Many départements (administrative regions) decided to finance the supply of laptop equipment to every pupil (11-15) in parallel with the educational curriculum.

  • Others

There are 4000 Internet public access points in France.

For all sectors of the public, 'a multimedia space offers users a variety of activities, thanks to collective workshops, but it also reserves some time for free navigation'.

At the national level, few things are coexisting:

  • The ' Espace Culture Multimedia' (around 130) funded by the Ministry of Culture and Communication.
  • The 'Points cyb-espace jeune numérique' (around 600) supoported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
  • The 'cyberbases' funded by the Caisse des dépôts et des consignations

At the local level, many local authority initiatives (around 3000) are developing local Internet public access.

Data about commercial Internet access is unknown

To conclude, according to the figures of the French Agency for Telecommunication Regulation (ART), the global figure for Internet access is 11,3 millions including 5,5 millions via broadband. The increase in broadband take-up continues.

Data about mobile phones

According to a study by ART, the mobile market counted 44,5 millions clients as of the 31st of January 2004. 27,4 millions of them have a contract. The number of clients increased by 2,9 millions in one year (annual increase of 6,9%)

The mobile penetration rate at that date was 73,9% with some big differences between the regions (the lowest rate was in Auvergne (53,3%), the highest rate was in Ile de France (105%).

The average monthly SMS traffic of is 2951,6 millions or 23,6 SMS sent in average every month by each active client.

Data about video games

According to the French Agency for Video Games, the console equipment penetration rate in families was 28,5% in September 2004.

According to a TNS SOFRES poll in 2004, 26% of French people play using a console or a computer. 43% of these players prefer the computer, 28% the console and 25% use both platforms.

Conclusion

Data collection concerning the Internet leads us to make these remarks concerning their nature:

  • There is a lot of statistical data about the Internet (particularly concerning family computer equipment).
  • There are data for the new communication technologies market.
  • There are more specialised studies on youth cultural practice.
  • There are studies specially centred on the Internet at school and generally ordered by the Ministry of Education (uses of Information and Communication Technologies at school, teachers' perceptions of these technologies).

The research and studies specially centred on the Internet and young people are not numerous. When they do exist, they are focused on teenagers and not on children.

B/ Resources - Opinion Polls and studies

  • «Un ménage sur deux possède un micro-ordinateur, un sur trois à accès à Internet». One in two homes has a computer, one in three homes has Internet access. March 2005, Insee, Division of living conditions. Yves Frydel.

Investigation into the living conditions of French people. It was carried out in 8800 homes. This investigation has existed since 1996 with regard to computer equipment, and since 1999 with regard to Internet access equipment.

  • «Le cap des 20 millions d'Internautes de 15 ans et plus est atteint». The number of 20 millions Internet users of 15 years old and older has been reached. Sondage Ipsos, le 27/12/2004.

This poll is not focused on young people and does not take into account young people under 15 years. This survey was launched to learn more about the profile of the Internet users of many websites. The poll had a sample of 33 000 people with questionnaires online, and phone interviews.

  • «Baromètre CSA-Opinion 2003, Les Français et l'utilisation des micro-ordinateurs». French people and their computer use, Ministère de l'Economie, des Finances et de l'Industrie.

This study focuses on people 15 years old and older. The questions were about their different attitudes when in front of a computer, equipment at home, and its uses. It was carried out on a sample of 1088 persons interviewed at home. The results for 15-24 year olds are quite clear and interesting.

  • «Français et Internet». The French people and the Internet.

Septembre 2002- Juin 2003, Etude réalisée par Universal MacCan Connections (entitée dédiée à l'expertise entre les consommateurs, les marques et les médias).

In this study there was a special focus on the 12-20 year olds. Unfortunately we have not obtained the results of this study.

  • «L'audience de l'Internet en France». The Internet audience in France, Janvier 2005, Médiamétrie.

In January 2005, 24 144 000 French people from 11 years old and older went on the Internet, that is to say an 11% increase in one year.

This study carried out by the Observatory of Internet Use was made on a sample of 1000 persons of 11 years old and older, interviewed by phone.

However, it does not give precise data concerning young people and the Internet.

  • «Téléchargement de musique en ligne : gratuit ou payant ?
    Que font les internautes ?»    . Downloading music on line: free or paying? What are Internet users doing ? Février 2005, Médiamétrie. Communiqué de presse.

A study carried out on a sample of 7000 people who have Internet access at home or at work. One can observe the increase in music downloading online but also through legal paying websites.

  • «Téléphonie mobile : le marché de la 3G est-il mûr ?». Mobile phones: is the 3G market mature ? Décembre 2004, TNS-SOFRES

A study using a sample of 674 persons of 15 years old and older who have a mobile phone.

This opinion poll shows that between 2002 and 2004, the attraction of 3G did not increase. 30% of the people interviewed in 2002 were absolutely not interested in 3G, and this figure was 34% in 2004. This study reveals the different barriers to the development of the 3G.

  • «Etat des lieux du marché français des jeux vidéo». The situation of the French video games market. Décembre 2004, TNS-SOFRES

A study carried out by phone on a sample of 1000 persons of 15 years old and older.

The study shows that 23% of people play video games. 63% use a computer, and increasingly they use the PC and the games console (33% in 2004 compared with 25% in 2003)

  • «Les Français, les loisirs et les nouvelles technologies, vers une société d'Entertainment ?». French people, spare time and new technologies; towards an entertainment society ? Juin 2004, IPSOS

Among the interesting results of this opinion poll, we find that French people give more and more importance to new technologies in their daily leisure time. We also find a general table with equipment penetration rates. At the top of the list: the phone, the television, the radio; at the bottom : the home cinema, the web cam and the laptop.

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